Carpenter sharp in final spring tuneup

Right-hander allows just four hits in seven innings vs. LA

By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

CARDINALS 3, DODGERS 0at Jupiter, Fla.Tuesday, March 27

Dodgers at the plate: Tony Abreu singled twice. Jeff Kent doubled in the sixth, but Los Angeles missed out on a bases-loaded, one-out chance when Andy La Roche hit into a double play. Matt Kemp was hit by a pitch and singled.

Cardinals at the plate: Albert Pujols hit his first home run of the spring, a rocket shot onto the deck of the Marlins' complex beyond the left-field fence. Scott Rolen singled and was hit by a pitch, and Yadier Molina singled and walked.

Dodgers on the mound: Newly anointed fifth starter Brett Tomko fared pretty well against one of his former teams, allowing two runs on three hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked one. Chin-Hui Tsao worked around two singles for a scoreless sixth, and Joe Beimel cruised through a 1-2-3 seventh.

Cardinals on the mound: Chris Carpenter became the first Cardinal to pitch seven innings this spring, allowing four hits and two walks in his shutout stint. Carpenter struck out five. Josh Hancock twirled a scoreless eighth.

Grapefruit League records: Dodgers 16-13; Cardinals 14-10.

Up next: The Cardinals visit the Orioles at 12:05 p.m. CT on Wednesday. Braden Looper gets his final spring start for the Cardinals against Baltimore's Erik Bedard.

Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.